Chapter 34: Combat 2
Brief Recap:
A United Nations Expeditionary (UNE) task force, including Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers, launched an invasion to capture the High-Value Target (HVT), Khalid al-Hassan. After securing a perimeter in a coastal town, they breached a suspected hideout but found no sign of the HVT. Now, they're advancing towards a TV station where Al-Hassan is believed to be broadcasting.
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The troops moved cautiously through the dimly lit hallway, the sound of boots and equipment echoing off the concrete walls. The air was thick with tension, every corner a potential ambush site. Helena's heart pounded in her chest, adrenaline sharpening her focus.
Just when they are moving up to the hallway, they were met by gunfire from an OpFor soldier by the door far ahead.
Ryan and Massey returned fire, but the OpFor wasn't there anymore. Ryan then took point with Helena behind him as they cautiously move up to the hallway.
An 4g shotgun round was shot off inches away from hitting Ryan as the latter shift his aim to the Opfor by the other door, killing him.
"That was close." Ryan sighed in relief. "I almost got hit there."
Ryan and Massey continued to the hallway where as Helena decide to go the door. She was now inside a room filled with chairs and tables. And then the next two rooms over, there are computers and other electronic devices used for radio broadcasts.
Right by the window, she could also see the OpFor. After Ryan and Massey made it to the room with her, they all engaged the hostiles.
The trio took cover by the windows as bullets shattered the glass. Ryan peeked out and fire bursts of shots to the OpFor. While that was happening, Helena glanced to Massey as he is now switching to his shotgun. A 4g semi-auto shotgun called the TK40.
Massey look back to Helena and gave her a nod, implying that they are gonna flank the OpFor while they are distracted with Ryan. Helena then reload her weapon as both of them move in to the door.
Massey fired his shotgun to the nearby OpFor as Helena dealt with the ones by the windows. One of the OpFor attempting to charge at Massey, but was met with a shotgun blast to the face blowing the brain matter and blood everywhere including on Massey's face and goggles making him react in dissatisfaction. "Jesus, I've got blood and brains in my fucking mouth!" He exclaimed. He then wipe the blood off his face and spits out bits.
Helena could only respond with a shrug. "Sucks to be you, Massey."
Before they go to the server room - the one filled with big electronic devices, Helena went ahead and threw a grenade in. After the grenade exploded, she went in while taking out her pistol.
Given its lightweight, it gives her an advantage for close quarters. She turned to a corner and saw two hostiles. She quickly took them down with only six shots. When she was reloading her pistol, she can see Massey taking down the rest of the hostiles with his shotgun. She move up between the big devices before spotting another enemy and then shoot him down.
After that, the room was now clear. Helena switched back to her M16A6 assault rifle as she heard footsteps coming to them. She look back to the computer room and saw Ryan with three other marines.
The group then stack up to a doorway that leads to the central newsroom. Helena took a peek and saw that the room is very large and filled with desks and computers. Ryan then signaled them to move in. Massey nodded and took point followed by a Marine and then Helena herself.
As they entered, they were immediately met with gunfire by OpFor that are in the room with them. Though they manage to evade them by ducking down behind the tables. Ryan and the other two marines entered and return fire at them. Massey switch back to his rifle and fired as well. Meanwhile, Helena was moving up to one of the office rooms with a marine. Though she had to stop midway when she was under fire by the OpFor. She got up and assist her fellow marines on dealing with them.
She also saw that there were more OpFor from the second floor. She shifted her rifle to them and took them out. Suddenly, she saw a rocket zooming by to the door as it then exploded, killing one of the marines.
"Who the hell would fire a fucking RPG indoors?!" Helena said, flabbergasted.
Ryan was then seen firing his gun up towards the second floor. Moments later, Helena could see the RPG soldier falling to the ground. With that out of the way, she made her way to the office with the Marine trailing behind her. Helena then saw there were a few more OpFor at the office as well. She and the marine took care of them with ease.
The Marine then took point as they both move in to flank the OpFor. However, when the Marine was about to enter the third room, she was suddenly kicked to the ground by an OpFor ambusher. Helena didn't manage to save her when the OpFor took out her pistol and shot the marine dead. Though she quickly avenged her by running up to OpFor and put a knife on her throat.
Helena moved up to the room that leads out to the main area. She peeked from the window and saw there were a group of OpFor by the exit. Seeing the opportunity, she threw her last flashbang to the group. When it exploded and blinded the enemies, she peek out and started spraying her rifle until it was out of ammo.
Though she did not manage to kill all of the OpFor, she did killed most of them. When the surviving OpFor turned to her, she quickly ducked down as she was under fire again. Luckily, Ryan came in to help as he rushed to the OpFor and put so much lead to them.
Helena then reload her rifle and moved up to deal with the rest of the OpFor. Losing so many of their comrades, two of Al-Hassan's men tried to retreat, but they were shot down by a female Russian soldier and Massey.
After that intense fighting, the central room was cleared. "Room clear! Move up. Khalid al-Hassan should be on the second floor!" Ryan urged as they all move up to the door that leads to the reception area. Ryan then opened the door as they all went in the reception room, which of course was in a pretty bad state. Windows were broken, the couches were thrown around, and there was a destroyed truck blocking the main entrance.
As they move up, they could hear the sound of tracks. They wondered what it is or where it's coming from. It was answered when Helena looked outside as she saw American M1A5 Abrams and Russian T-28U Armata tanks rolling down on the main street.
"Yeah, there goes our boys!" Massey said to the tanks rolling by.
"Ura." The female Russian soldier said.
The squad of four continued on until they hear a voice coming from the radio. "Hold your fire! Friendlies coming out!"
It was answered when the door near the stairs opened, revealing USMC Private First Class Tyrone Towson, Russian Marine Corps Corporal Tatiana Abramov and two other marines. "No sign of Khalid al-Hassan, sir." Tyrone informed to Ryan, in which he gave him a simple nod.
"Alright boys and girls. Fall in. Stay frosty." Ryan said.
The eight-marine and five-soldier squads then move up the stairs to the second floor. They then walked into a break room and head over to the roof. As they proceed, shouts and gunfire were heard from below.
Helena looked from the window as she sees OpFor reinforcements coming in to the parking lot. They begin to fight off the Task Force that stayed outside to guard the station.
Seeing that they need their help, Ryan's squad took action. Tyrone went to the roof and placed the bipod of his M60E8 LMG. He then open fire to the enemy reinforcements.
Meanwhile, Helena breaks the window of the break room and fired her gun from there. Though, on her right, she saw there was an old RPG-7V2 and a SVK designated marksman rifle just sitting by, waiting to be used.
"Ohhh." Helena acknowledged seeing the weapons.
Helena switched her rifle and picked up the RPG-7V2. She aimed the rocket to a group of OpFor gathering in front of a car. She fired the rocket at it which exploded the car and simultaneously killing the OpFor around it.
She then reload another rocket and fired to another group of OpFor. She could see their bodies flying off from the blast. "Now they know how it felt." She smirked. She loaded her last rocket and aimed it to where the OpFor are coming. She fired the rocket managing to kill three more OpFor. She threw the spent RPG away and lifted her rifle back up and dealt with the stragglers.
After about a minute, they saw that no more OpFor are coming, implying that they were all killed off. With that out of the way, they continued on.
"Watch your six, Devil dog." Tyrone said, possibly to the Marines outside before they all move up to a set of stairs to the third floor. As they went around the ventilation shafts and radars, they could hear two Ukrainian and Russian Su-57 Felons and one American F-55 Warhawk making a fly by above them, the latter letting out an ear-piercing sound due to it switching it's modes to VTOL hovering near the Task Force.
The Marines and Soldiers then proceed to the broadcasting room where they could hear the voice of Al-Hassan inside. "I think he's in there. I hear him." Tyrone said.
Ryan nodded his head before glancing to Massey, Helena, and Tatiana by the door. "Do it." After he said that, Massey fired his shotgun three times at the door hinges before kicking it open.
Tatiana went in first as Helena and Massey catch up. The trio then search the entire broadcasting room for any signs of Al-Hassan. However, it appears to be empty with the only sign of life was the broadcast from earlier.
"Clear!" Both Massey and Tatiana exclaimed as the rest of the Task Force walked in. Massey continue to check every nook and cranny if the room is fully cleared, which it is now.
"Room clear!" Massey declared.
"Что за фигня? [What the fuck?] He's not here." Tatiana added.
Then one of the marines from Tyrone's squad a Finnish man checked the TV. "It's on a loop. The broadcast is a recording." He stated.
"Yeah. Score one for military fuckin' intelligence!" Tyrone sarcastically said, with a hint of frustration.
"Especially when you lost several of your comrades." Helena said, remembering how many Marines and Soldiers were killed during the assault and firefights.
Ryan let out a sigh. "Towson, turn that shit off." He pointed to the recording room where it was playing the broadcast.
"Roger that. I got something better anyway." Tyrone said before going in to the recording booth.
Ryan then went to his radio. "Command, this is Wildcard. The TV station is secured, but there's no sign of Al-Hassan. The broadcast is a recording, over." He informed to Command.
While that was happening, Tyrone had change the broadcast recording and puts on a rap song. He was seen bobbing his head from the beat. The rest could hear what the rap song is with some enjoying the beat of it.
The sound of a friendly Russian Mi-350 Super Hind heavy air transport landing outside. Helena went out to check to see Russian Army General Dimitri Smirnov, Ukrainian Marine Corps Lieutenant General Anastasia Bandera, and German Air Force Colonel Friedrich Hoffmann step out of the aircraft.
"Command's here." Helena called out to Ryan. He and the others then walk out the TV station, meeting with the Commanders. A group of soldiers and marines then went out and secure the area.
"What is going on here? Where's al-Hassan?" General Bandera asked, being a bit pissed off about not finding the HVT.
"Ma'am, the intel was wrong." Ryan answered. "Al-Hassan isn't here."
"You've got to be fucking kidding me." General Smirnov sighed, clearly unhappy about the results. "We're done here. Pack up and ship out." He said as he head back to the Mi-350.
Helena felt a deep sense of frustration gnawing at her. They had fought hard, losing comrades along the way, only to find an empty room and a looped broadcast. The air was heavy with the stench of sweat and gunpowder, mingling with the lingering tension of the battle.
Ryan, seeing the dissatisfaction etched on everyone's faces, tried to muster some optimism. "This isn't over. Al-Hassan is still out there, and we'll get him." His voice was firm, but the weariness was evident.
As the task force began to regroup and prepare for extraction, Helena took a moment to reload her weapons and catch her breath. The echoes of the recent firefight still rang in her ears. She glanced at Massey, who was meticulously cleaning the blood and brain matter off his gear, a look of grim determination on his face.
"Think we'll get another shot at him?" she asked, her voice low, almost drowned out by the roar of the approaching helicopters.
"Damn right we will," Massey replied, not looking up from his task. "Next time, we'll make sure he's got nowhere to hide."
Helena nodded, gripping her rifle tighter. She thought about the civilians affected by this conflict, the towns torn apart, the lives shattered. It fueled her resolve. They couldn't afford to let Al-Hassan slip away again.
As they moved towards the awaiting aircraft, she felt a hand on her shoulder. It was Tatiana, her piercing blue eyes filled with a mix of exhaustion and determination. "Stay sharp, Helena. This fight is far from over."
"Yeah, I know," Helena replied, offering a small, tired smile. "Let's finish this."
The squad boarded the aircraft, the rotors kicking up dust and debris. The roar of the engines was deafening, but it was a welcome distraction from the chaotic thoughts swirling in her mind. As the helicopter lifted off, Helena cast one last look at the now silent TV station. It was a stark reminder of the enemy they were up against – elusive, cunning, and dangerous.
As they flew towards their base, the soldiers and marines sat in silence, each lost in their thoughts. The mission might have ended in disappointment, but it had also steeled their resolve. They would regroup, re-strategize, and come back stronger. Al-Hassan couldn't hide forever.
Ryan, sitting across from her, caught her eye and gave a nod of reassurance. "We'll get him, Helena. We have to."
She nodded back, the resolve in her eyes mirroring his. "Yeah, we will. For everyone we lost today. We owe them that much."
The aircraft continued its journey, the landscape below a blur of green and brown. The mission had taken a toll, but it had also forged a stronger bond among them. They were more than a task force now – they were a unit, united by a common goal. And they would stop at nothing to see it through.
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